PLAINFIELD- To help them better understand new federal tax policies in Illinois, State Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) is inviting Will County residents to attend a Tax Reform Details workshop.

The event hosted by Bertino-Tarrant’s office and the AARP will be held on March 1 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Presence Senior Healing Arts Pavilion (500 S. Weber Rd., Romeoville).

“This informative workshop will help residents better understand how the newest tax reform laws will affect them and their families,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “Knowledge is power. Local residents have the right to know about all changes to tax laws and codes to ensure they are taking advantage of possible savings.”

Bertino-Tarrant urges residents to contact her office at (815) 254-4211 to register for the workshop to ensure there proper accommodations are available for all interested participants.

PLAINFIELD – State Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) is pleased to see nation-wide implementation of “Kari’s Law,” a measure she introduced in the Illinois Senate in 2014.

Today, President Donald Trump signed legislation that requires newly installed business phone systems to allow users to dial "9-1-1" without needing to pre-dial a code such as the number "9."

“We teach our children to dial 9-1-1 in case of emergencies. That number should work all the time from anywhere,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “In the time of crisis, you don’t have the time to learn new phone systems.”

Bertino-Tarrant introduced this legislation after the tragic news that a 9-year-old girl was unsuccessful at dialing 9-1-1 from a Texas hotel room as her mother, Kari, was being stabbed to death. The hotel, like many hotels nationwide, was on a closed business circuit and the young girl didn’t realize that she needed to dial the number 9 to reach an outside line.

Immediately following Kari's death her father, Hank Hunt, started a petition that got the attention of hundreds of thousands of people, including lawmakers in several states. He has been pushing for changes at the federal level for years.

“This nation-wide law is a true testament to Mr. Hunt’s dedication to preventing similar tragic events from ever happening again,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “This monumental legislation will help victims of tragedies receive vital assistance with more simplicity and ease.”

Thanks to Hunt’s collaboration with Bertino-Tarrant, Illinois was one of the first states to adopt this law.

Kari’s Law mandates that all businesses must have their phone lines in compliance within two years of the bill becoming law. The Federal Communication Commission is charged with enforcing it.

“Gov. Bruce Rauner spent months touting himself as the education governor yet once again his budget fails to put the necessary money into our schools to ensure the bipartisan school funding formula achieves our goals of ending years of disparities and inequality in our classrooms. His budget is going to force schools to raise property taxes despite the historic reforms we passed last year.”

O’Brien was born Feb. 2, 1918 to John Henry O’Brien and Clara Eve Bertrand in Reddick, Ill. He is a distinguished World War II veteran who served as a United States Army T-Sergeant in North Africa and Italy. On Aug. 23, 1941 he married Velma Hunt, his sweetheart of 77 years. Velma is 99 years young.

Pictured, Leon O’Brien is seated with Velma. State Senator Bertino-Tarrant is standing second from the left with the O’Brien Family.